Hometeam: Hopedale starts fast, turns back Uxbridge

WORCESTER 
Hopedale High’s appearance in the Clark Tournament last year lasted 32 excruciating minutes as the Blue Raiders succumbed to Uxbridge High in a low-scoring slugfest.

“It was an ugly game,” senior captain Evan Lerner recalled. “It was real important for us to come back here and play high-intensity ball.”

Consider it mission accomplished in the rematch.

Led by an unselfish offense and especially an unrelenting defense, Hopedale built a 24-point halftime lead before easing to a 61-46 Small Schools victory over the Spartans in the opening round of the 74th Clark Tournament on Sunday at Kneller Athletic Center.

“We try to get it to that frenzy pace,” Lerner said after the Blue Raiders’ defense generated 22 turnovers, the majority leading to baskets. “We drill conditioning and defense.”

Fourth-seeded Hopedale (15-5) will meet top-seeded Littleton High (19-1) at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday in what has the makings of a seismic semifinal showdown.

Uxbridge, winner of two consecutive Clark championships, dipped to 13-7 after losing for the sixth time in 11 games.

Although the Blue Raiders carried the play, the Spartans were within range at 23-13 with 3:18 to play. But any hopes of hanging in there until intermission were quickly extinguished.

Hopedale closed with a 14-0 run, with four players contributing points and all five creating havoc on defense. Uxbridge not only didn’t score during the game-clinching stretch, it had eight giveaways in its final nine possessions.

The guard trio of senior Luke Manoli and sophomores Kevin Lynch and Kevin Bresciani set the pace with straight-up pressure and suffocating traps.

“They put tremendous defensive pressure on our guys and really took us out of running things,” said Mark Donahue, who is retiring this season. He’s coached Uxbridge since 1978.

“One of the things we’ve tried to do all season long is put pressure on the ball,” Hopedale coach Tony Cordani said. “And that’s something we’ve had success doing.”

The Blue Raiders got 20 points apiece from Lerner and Lynch, who connected on 6 of 13 3-pointers. Jeremy Bacon added 13 points and one terrific highlight, hitting the floor to corral a loose ball at midcourt and then flipping it over his head to a streaking Lerner for a three-point play that made it 33-13.